DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning
streak against the Dallas Mavericks to 18 games with a 123-101
victory as Shaquille O'Neal overcame another porous effort from
the free throw line by totaling 27 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers have not lost to Dallas since April 5, 1995, thanks
to the 18-game streak that includes a pair of victories in the
last three days.

O'Neal collected 30 points and 20 rebounds in a 105-97 win on
Sunday, when Mavericks coach Don Nelson ordered his team to foul
O'Neal whenever he touched the ball.

"I'm struggling from the line, but I'll find a way to come in
and do my thing every night," he said. "I'm gonna start hitting
them. I'm not worried."

The 7-1 center, a 35 percent shooter from the line this season,
went 10-of-23 two days ago and 3-for-14 tonight, but he had four
points during a 14-0 run in the third quarter as Los Angeles
built a 72-54 cushion.

"I've been averaging 27 (points) and once I step up and start
hitting them I'll be averaging 37, 47 and 57," he said. "I'm
always hitting them in practice. They just don't fall in the
game. ... I'm probably just trying too hard to shut you guys up.
That's all you seem to talk about."

Glen Rice capped the 14-0 burst with a jumper and finished with
21 points as the Lakers won for the fourth time in five games to
start the season under new coach Phil Jackson.

Michael Finley and Erick Strickland scored 19 points apiece for
Dallas, which has lost three of its last four games since a
season-opening win over Golden State.

"Sunday night, Shaq beat us and tonight, the rest of the team
beat us," Finley said.

Strickland gave the Mavericks their only lead, 2-0, with a dunk
67 seconds into the game.

O'Neal shot 12-of-16 from the floor and had three blocks, but he
went just 1-of-9 from the line in the first half and committed
seven turnovers.

Asked about O'Neal's problems from the line, Jackson said, "I
don't know if I'll comment on that publicly because I know it's
very disarming and stressing for him. He was very frustrated in
the first half when he went (1-for-9) and I know that's
embarrassing for him."

O'Neal overcame his own deficiencies to dominate at times. His
10-foot jumper with 7:41 left in the third quarter increased Los
Angeles' lead to 66-54 and his dunk 67 seconds later made it
70-54.

"I didn't play a real good game, especially from the line," he
said. "But I did other things well."

Rick Fox and Tyronn Lue scored 18 and 13 points, respectively,
in reserve roles for the Lakers, who shot a blistering 62
percent (53-of-85) from the field but only 43 percent (12-of-28)
from the line.

"The bench played well enough," Jackson said. "Fox and Ty Lue,
some of the other guys off the bench played real well."

O'Neal led a dominating effort on the glass as Los Angeles
outrebounded the Mavericks, 53-35.

Derek Fisher ignited the key run with a layup and free throw for
a 61-54 advantage with 9:25 to play in the third quarter. Rice
sank a 3-pointer and jumper around O'Neal's baskets and a hoop
by Derek Harper.

"Once we got the lead, we wanted to make it a comfortable lead
and build on it," Rice said. "We didn't want them to come out
and foul us for the last four or five minutes of the game. I
had a little hot hand. I was carrying a little torch there and
I got some good looks."

Rice and Lue combined to sink all five of their 3-point attempts
as the Lakers were 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Cedric Ceballos and Steve Nash combined for 35 points off the
bench for the Mavs, who shot 42 percent (38-of-91) from the
floor.